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The origin of pelletal lapilli in explosive kimberlite eruptions

Gernon, TM; Brown, RJ; Tait, M; Hincks, TK

The origin of pelletal lapilli in explosive kimberlite eruptions Thumbnail


Authors

TM Gernon

M Tait

TK Hincks



Abstract

Kimberlites are volatile-rich magmas from mantle depths of ≥150 km and are the primary source of diamonds. Kimberlite volcanism involves the formation of diverging pipes or diatremes, which are the locus of high-intensity explosive eruptions. A conspicuous and previously enigmatic feature of diatreme fills are 'pelletal lapilli'—well-rounded clasts consisting of an inner 'seed' particle with a complex rim, thought to represent quenched juvenile melt. Here we show that these coincide with a transition from magmatic to pyroclastic behaviour, thus offering fundamental insights into eruption dynamics and constraints on vent conditions. We propose that pelletal lapilli are formed when fluid melts intrude into earlier volcaniclastic infill close to the diatreme root zone. Intensive degassing produces a gas jet in which locally scavenged particles are simultaneously fluidised and coated by a spray of low-viscosity melt. A similar origin may apply to pelletal lapilli in other alkaline volcanic rocks, including carbonatites, kamafugites and melilitites.

Citation

Gernon, T., Brown, R., Tait, M., & Hincks, T. (2012). The origin of pelletal lapilli in explosive kimberlite eruptions. Nature Communications, 3, Article 832. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1842

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2012
Deposit Date Jul 25, 2012
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Nature Communications
Publisher Nature Research
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 3
Article Number 832
DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1842
Keywords Earth sciences, Geology and geophysics

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